Devastated family searches for home

A GEELONG family dealing with the devastation of a house fire that claimed the lives of two beloved dogs are now desperately searching for somewhere to live.

Raylene Benson and her son Daniel escaped their burning home however Dior and Lily, the pets who “meant the world” to Raylene, were trapped in the blaze.

Trying to deal with sadness and loss should be their focus, but instead they have been visiting caravan parks, making calls and worrying whether they will have a roof over their heads next week.

Raylene’s daughter Nadine Haynes said her mum and brother were currently in emergency accommodation through Salvos Connect, which is only available to them for a few more days, and they face at least a two-month wait until a long-term home becomes available through Aboriginal Housing.

“Mum’s contributing to the cost of a motel that Salvos Connect found for them at the moment but she’s on a pension so it has to be what she can afford,” Nadine said.

“She’s on a waiting list at caravan parks but otherwise she has nowhere to go.

“I’ve said she could come here but I’ve got three kids and two have disability.

“She says she doesn’t want to be a burden, and there’s my brother as well, but I think she knows the kids don’t cope with change,” explaining two of her young children have autism, ADHD and other challenges.

Nadine said the shortage of temporary accommodation options was making dealing with the grief so much worse for her mother and brother.

“There’s been a lot of tears, every day,” she said.

“She’s lost everything; she doesn’t care about the material things, she just wants her dogs back. She just wants her dogs to cuddle,” she said.

“I know they’re irreplaceable, but it would be on my wish list that one day she can have another fluffy white dog to fill that hole in her heart; they were her babies.

“But I’ve had to say ‘Mum you can’t have a dog because we have to find somewhere for you to live first’.”

Nadine said she hoped someone would have a granny flat or a caravan in their backyard they would consider renting as an affordable option for about two months until the property they have applied for becomes available.

She also hopes to raise enough money for her mum to start again, and thanked everyone who had already donated to a fundraiser she had created to help with buying furniture and basics when her Mum and brother can move into a home.

Nadine set a target of $10,000 in the hope that she could buy a new refrigerator, washing machine and household items that would come with warranties because as a pensioner, replacing those big-ticket items was almost impossible.

Just over $3,600 has been raised to two weeks via a Facebook fundraiser. Nadine has now started a GoFundMe page for anyone without a social media account who wishes to donate.

“I really want to thank the community for all their support; it’s been really amazing,” she said.

“She’s had so many clothes donated, and we’ve had a lot offers of furniture but they’ve got no where to put anything, so that’s why I started the fundraiser.”

To help Raylene and Daniel rebuild their lives, search “HOUSE FIRE Loses everything – Corio” on the GoFundMe website.